Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 20, 1-2, 11-18
On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”
Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
“Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
“Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her,
“Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.'”
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he told her.
Mary, don’t hold me back
1. Early in the morning. In life there are moments when we do not see things so well. There are things that are not clear in your heart or in your head. In moments like that, it is good to learn to wait and to observe. Mary Magdalene had a broken heart, but she kept walking towards the place where the Person who had changed her life had been laid. Today, I invite you to keep on walking, even if your heart and hope have been shattered. Look for Jesus, the One who changed you and changes your life. Do not let sadness cast aside everything that made you passionate about living. Go out and look for Him. Don’t stay locked up in your fears, or in your pain.
2. Why are you weeping? Today, what is it that makes you cry and lose your inner peace? Go back to talk to Jesus and live a more spiritual life. Do not let tears cloud your heart. Many times, our tears make us feel helpless and isolated, but Jesus wants to fill us with Himself. Never stop looking to Jesus in order to calm your heart.
3. Announce. Mary goes out and proclaims. She shows that Jesus is alive. Faith can take you from tears to joy. Faith permits you to be a messenger of life and hope. Come on! May your faith not falter and may your tears not bring you down, but rather lead you to an encounter with the Risen One. Remember that something good is on the way! God bless you and be with you, in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
